Apparatus for counting laundry



APPARATUS FOR COUNTING LAUNDRY Filed Oct. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 4 '7 4/2 lNVENTOR W/W/am 14. 5560/] ATTORNEY M Dec. 28,1943. w SQHOLZ 2,337,774

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING LAUNDRY Filed Oct. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I I3 4|:

g A M. 26 A 1 M v ,4//- gg INVENTdR 57 if I W/W/am 4. 56/70/ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES OFFICE APPARATUS FOR COUNTING LAUNDRY WilliamA. Scholz, Altadena, Calif.

Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,623

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for counting articles of relatively light weight, such as articles of laundry. It also relates to apparatus for facilitating sorting operations in various establishments such as laundries.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 178,361, filed December 6, 1937, for Apparatus for counting and sorting laundry.

It is an object of the invention to provide a practical apparatus of the above character, which will be simple in construction, and which will count towels or similar articles of laundry with a high degree of accuracy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a counting apparatus operative to effect a count when a soiled towel or like article is tossed against an impact surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined counting and sorting apparatus, which will facilitate sorting operation such as are frequently carried out in laundries, and which will count the individual articles simultan ously with sorting operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry counting apparatus for impact actuation which is accurate in its operation under the impact of both light and heavy articles.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, illustrating installation of apparatus incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 22 of Figure and on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the plane being on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View, in crosssection, illustrating a suitable type of electrical contacting means, for incorporation in the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the operating parts in a different position.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

v as a towel.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an electrical circuit connection for a complete counting system.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged front view showing a modified form of electrical contacting devices as related to the frame and screen of the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical means associated with the contacting dev ces shown in Figure 9.

The equipment illustrated in the drawings is capable of performing two chief functions, namely to count articles of laundry such as towels and the like, and to facilitate sorting of articles of laundry by the operator. To enable its use as a sort ng apparatus it incorporates a number of duplicate units, grouped in a novel fashion about a sorting tray. It is to be understood however, that one of these units may be used by itself, to perform a counting function, without in any way being a part of a sorting apparatus.

Thus referring to the drawings, I have shown apparatus consisting of a number of units identifzed as Al to All inclusive, grouped about a sorting platform B. The construction of each of the units A! to AU inclusive can be best understood by reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4. Ingeneral. each unit incorporates an impact panel or screen I6, movably carried by the mounting frame i7, and adapted to operate electrical contacting means I8. Before describing these parts in greater detail, it can be pointed out that in operation, articles such as soiled towels, are tossed by an operator against the screen Hi, and this screen is mounted so that it oscillates under such impact, to operate the contactor 58. After impacting with the screen Hi, the towel or like article drops down into the receivin hopper Ill.

The screen l8 should be relatively light in construction and mounted in such a manner that it will readily oscillate a limited amount under the soft impact of a relatively light article such A suitable construction is to provide a light. metal frame 2!, rectangular in contour, over which is stretched a sheet 22 of canvas or other fabric. For this purpose, the canvas sheet 22 may be provided with a plurality of suitable eyes around its edge which are engaged by a suitable fastening cord 23 also wound about the frame 25. This frame may be conveniently formed of steel tubing, welded together. The mounting H for the screen to includes'the upright side frame members it, having their upper ends connected by the horizontal member 25. Structural steel angles can be used to advantage for these parts, as illustrated. The lower corners of the frame 21 are provided with pivot pins 26, which afford. pivotal connection with the side frame members 24. Associated with the upper end of the frame 25 and carried by the stationary frame part 25 are the adjustable front and back stops 2! and Zla. The stops 2'! and 21a may conveniently be provided in the form of studs adjustably secured. in the top angle 25 and having their ends bent for engagement with the front and rear faces respectively of the frame 2|. The arrangement of the pivot 26 and stop 21 is such that the upper end of the screen is tilted forwardly.

From the above description it is seen that the screen l6 may oscillate between definite forward and rear limiting positions for the screen frame 2|, as controlled by the adjustment of the stops 2'! and Zla and as will be presently explained, it is such oscillating movements which operate the contacting and counting means.

In order to cushion the impact of articles on the screen, to minimize chattering and enable one adjustment of the stops for both light and heavy articles, a back stop is provided for the canvas sheet 22. This back stop is preferably in the form of a metal plate substantially coextensive with the canvas sheet 22 and spaced slightly rearwardly therefrom. Plate 28 may have its edges formed at an angle to its central portion for greater rigidity. The back stop plate 28 is adjustably mounted by means of a plurality of studs 28 secured thereon and extending through cross members 39 of the frame 26. Heavy springs 29a are provided about studs 29 to enable adjustable positioning of the back stop plate.

Thus, when an object is thrown against the canvas sheet 22, the canvas sheet can only travel until it comes in contact with the back plate stop 28 which absorbs the excess force without placing undue strain on the frame 2!. The back stop plate 28 acts to cushion the impart of the article, whether light or heavy, both because of the air space provided between the sheet 22 and the plate 28 and because the sheet engages the plate before it is stretched taut. In this Way frame 2| always receives a substantially uniform pull from the sheet 22 upon impact of an article. Rebound and vibration of the frame 2| is minimized and the stops can be accurately adjusted in one position to count both light and heavy articles.

The hopper i9 is disposed near the lower part of the screen It, and as previously mentioned, it serves to receive articles of laundry which have been tossed into impact with the screen. According to the detail illustrated, each of these hoppers is formed of metal side walls 3|, attached to the upright frame members 24. Walls 3| are connected by the forward wall 32. Assuming that a number of these units are to be grouped together to surround a sorting tray, the walls 3! are disposed in converging planes as illustrated, so that when units are assembled in side by side relationship, the screens l6 are disposed generally tangentially with respect to the arc of a circle. Below the hopper it there may be a receptacle, or a conduit 33 leading to a receptacle or other conveying means at a lower elevation.

The contacting means it is of such a type that the screen I6 must make a complete movement between the stops 2! and 21a before the contacts are operated to effect a count. This result is accomplished by the contacting means illustrated in detail in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive. Specifically this contacting means consists of a body or casing 3% formed of suitable insulating material, carrying a pivot pin 37. Fulcrumecl upon the pin 37, there is an arm 33, carrying the movable contact 33, and an operating lever 4 l. The inner end 32 of lever l! is provided with spaced lugs 43, which in turn form pivotal connections for the ends of the U-shaped member 44. Arm 38 carries a centrally located lug 35, and this lug is connected to the central portion of member 44, by a tension spring 41. Member 44 may oscillate between two limiting stops, both of which are carried by the arm 38. One stop is formed by the flanged portions 48 of the arm 38 and the other is formed by an offset lug 49. Electrical contact 39 cooperates with an adjustable stationary contact 5|, and on its back movement engages an adjustable stop The outer end 53 of the operating lever 4| is adapted for connection to a link 54, which connects lever ll to some suitable part of the screen IS. The screen it is yieldably urged toward the front stop 21 by gravity bias or by a light spring 55.

The contacting means described above functions as follows: As illustrated in Figure 5 the contacts 39 and 5! are open, and member 44 is in engagement with lug 49, being held in such position by the tension spring 41. Now as the outer end 53 of the lever 41 is moved upwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 6, the points of pivotal connection of member 44 with the inner end 42 of lever 4!, swings downwardly past dead center position with respect to the line of pull of spring 47, with the result that this spring flips member 44 upwardly to engage the stop portions 43, and thus swing arm 38 upwardly to close the contacts 38 and 5|. Conversely when lever 44 is swung to the position illustrated in Figure 5, the points of pivotal connection to member 44 are swung upwardly until they pass dead center position with respect to the pull of spring 47, and thus member 4 is caused to flip downwardly into engagement with lug 4-9, to swing arm 38 downwardly and open the contacts. as illustrated in Figure 5. Suitable adjustable stops 5t and 51 are provided to properly limit the swing of lever ll, so that the operating amplitude of this lever can be made to correspond to oscillating movements imparted to it through link 54, by movements of the screen l6 between the stops Zl and Z'la. Also the relationship of the parts of the contacting means is such that the contacts 39 and 5! are not swung to a different operating position, until the screen has been moved nearly its entire travel between the stops 2? and 210,. In other words, if the apparatus is installed so that the contacts 39 and 5! are open when the screen is in the forward position illustrated in Figure 2. these contacts will not be closed until the screen has been moved rearwardly to a point nearly engagement with the back stop 21a. When such position has been reached the contacts 39 and 5! snap rapidly to closed position to effect a positive closure and to remain closed until the screen has again swung forward nearly in engagement with the forward stop 21. This mode of operation avoids false operation of the contacts, except when the screen l6 is rapidly impacted with an article of laundry. Vibration of the screen l5, or chattering of this screen, stopping short of complete oscillating movement of the screen between the stops 2'! and 21a will not aifect the contacts, and" therefore will notcause an error in the count.

As shown diagrammatically in Figure" 8, the terminals of the contactor i8 connect-with an electrical circuit 6i, which in turn leads to the eiectrically actuated counter or recorder 62f. The counter 631118.57 be of a simple solenoid operated type, or may include printing means whereby the count can be printed upon a permanent record.

In installing a number of the units described above in a single apparatus, functioning to facilitate sorting of articles, the various units can be permanently connected together in some convenient fashion, as for example by interconnecting the adjacent vertical frame members 2 5, and by attaching the forward walls 32 of the hoppers 18 to a curved structural member 88. The ends of structural member E3 are shown connected to a substantially V-shaped structure member 84, and a suitable supporting surface, such as a grating or screening 68, is carried by the lower edge of the structural members 83 and St to form the shallow sorting tray 8?.

Operation of the apparatus described above, be briefly reviewed as follows: Assuming that a large number of soiled towels are to be sorted and counted, the operator dumps a batch of the towels into the bin tit, and then while standing near the apex of the frame member 64 the towels are sorted. manually and tossed into engagement with the various screens 58. Each of the screens 55 corresponds to a certain class group of article being sorted. Although the operator may toss the article in such a manner that it only lightly impacts the screen it, the screen will be operated between the stops 2'! and 2%., to operate the contacting means 48 and to effect a count. When the article engages a screen it, the canvas 22 of the screen only travels a short distance until it engages the back stop plate 28 and the impact is cushioned pneumatically because of the air gap between the screen the plate, and is further cushioned because of the actual contact of the canvas sheet with the plate before it becomes sufficiently taut to cause undesirable excessive rebound. The forward tilting of the upper ends of the screen provides a desirable trajectory for a rebounding article to fall out of the path of the next article being tossed. After a certain batch of the articles have been sorted as described, the operator can refer to the recording mechanisms 82 to determine the total amount of articles of each group, distributed to the various units.

Figures 9 and 10 show a modified form of construction employing contacting devices of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Harold J. Mumma, Serial No. 221,995, filed July 29, 1938, for Counting apparatus. As seen in Figure 9, the apparatus includes a frame with which a panel or screen liia is associated to receive the impact of articles of laundry being counted. The screen lBa is normally biased to its forward position by means of a suitable adjustable spring indicated schematically at I I. The forward and rearward positions of the screen frame Zia is limited by a pair of stop rods 2'"), and the rearward position of the canvas sheet is limited by means of the back stop plate 28a.

Electrical means operated by movements of the panel is illustrated diagrammatically in the circuit diagram of Figure 10, and makes use of contacting devices 19 and 8|, which can be mounted upon the upper structural member 25a. The details of construction of these devices need (iii not be described. Device 19 includes within its housing a pair of relatively movable electrical contacts, normally biased toward open position. A small finger 82 projects from the housing of device 19, and this finger extends in position to be engaged by the screen frame Zia, as the panel swings back toward its rear limiting position. For the final portion of the movem nt of the panel to its rear limiting position, finger 82 is moved sufiiciently far to close the contacts of device 79.

Contacting device 8| can be similar to'lil; except that its electrical contacts are normally biased towards closed position. The movable finger 83 projecting from the housing of device 8| extends in front of the screen frame Zla, whereby it is moved for the final portion of movement of the panel to the forward limiting position. Movement of finger 83 by forward movement of the panel serves to open the contacts of device 8!.

Referring now to the circuit connections of Figure 10, a magnetic relay 86 is provided, and this relay is provided with a pair of magnetic armatures 81 and 88, or some equivalent means for operation of two sets of contacts. One set of contacts 81a, operated by armatures 81 is connected in series with a circuit 89. This circuit includes a source of current represented by battery 9i, and an electrically operated device 92, such as a counter. The relay contacts 88a, controlled by armature 88, are connected in shunt with the contacts of the device 19.

The magnetic winding of relay 88 has its one terminal connected to one side of contacts 88a, and its other terminal is connected to a source of current, such as battery 93, with the other side of this battery connecting in series with contacts 8la of device Bl, to the other side of the contacts 19a.

Operation of the apparatus described above can be reviewed as follows: When the screen lfia is struck with an article of laundry, it swings to its rearward limiting position, and during the first position of such movement contacts 8la are closed while during the final portion of such movement contacts 18a are closed. Closing of these contacts immediately causes the current from battery 83 to pass through the windings of relay 88, because contacts 18a and 8Ia are now connected in series with respect to battery 93. Energizing of relay 86 causes closing of the two relay armatures B1 and 88, with the result that closing of contacts 81a energizes the counter 92, while closing of contacts 88a shunts and looks out contacts 18a. As the screen lfia returns back to its initial forward position, opening of contacts 19a does not immediately result in de-energiza- 'tion of the relay 86, because as pointed out contacts 19a are shunted by contacts 88a. Therefore if some chattering should occur, that is a chattering tending to repeatedly open and close contacts 19a, no false count can occur. During the last portion of the forward movement of the screen 16a, contacts Bla are moved to open position, and this serves to interrupt the fiow of current from battery 83, through the winding of relay 86. Therefore the relay is immediately de-energized and both the armatures 81 and 88 move to open position, to de-energize the counter 82, and to again make the contacts 19a receptive to a new count.

I claim:

In an apparatus of the character described, for actuation by relatively light articles, such as front impact area of the sheet of flexible material is impacted by an article of laundry, the frame is oscillated rearwardly, a back stop plate secured to the support and extending in close spaced proximity to the sheet of flexible material and immediately behind the same, said back stop plate serving to prevent excessive flexing of the sheet of flexible material, and electrical contacting means operated by oscillating movements of 10 the screen.

WILLIAM A. SCHOLZ. 

